TNAG-1803-FCO40-2563-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-talks-between-the-UK--Hong-Kon-1988 — Page 67

CONFIDENTIAL

MKD 243/is

нко

(is

022212

MDHOAN 6679

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE BANGKOK

TELNO 469

OF 14140OZ OCT 88

Ons

TOP COPY Q DIST

AND TO IMMEDIATE KUALA LUMPUR, MANILA, SINGAPORE, JAKARTA AND TO IMMEDIATE BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, EC POSTS, WASHINGTON AND TO IMMEDIATE OTTAWA, TOKYO, PEKING

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA

OUR TELNO 2669 TO HONG KONG: (NOW REPEATED TO ALL ADDRESSES): VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: SECOND ROUND OF TALKS WITH VIETNAM.

1. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF ADDRESSES WOULD GIVE HOST GOVERNMENTS A COPY OF THE PRESS STATEMENT IN TUR AND BRIEF THEM ON THE TALKS ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:

-

(A) THE TALKS TOOK PLACE IN A CONSTRUCTIVE ATMOSPHERE: (B) WE ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO VIETNAMESE ACCEPTANCE THAT COMPREHENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ARE NEEDED FOR ALL THOSE SCREENED OUT. THE TWO SIDES AGREED AS A FIRST STEP TOWARDS SUCH ARRANGEMENTS TO CONCENTRATE ON THOSE WHO HAD ASKED TO GO BACK - 350 HAVE ALREADY DONE SO. (IF APPROPRIATE) WE HAVE LEFT THE VIETNAMESE IN NO DOUBT THAT IN DUE COURSE ALL (ALL) POST 15 JUNE ARRIVALS WHO ARE SCREENED OUT AS NON-REFUGEES MUST GO BACK TO VIETNAM. THE VIETNAMESE UNDERSTAND OUR POSITION.

(C) THERE WAS AGREEMENT ON THE NEED TO MAKE EARLY PROGRESS ON

THE FIRST RETURNS.

(D) THE TWO SIDES LOOK TO UNHCR AS THE APPROPRIATE AGENCY TO DEVELOP A HUMANITARIAN REPATRIATION PACKAGE, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE. (IF NECESSARY) WE UNDERSTAND THAT UNHCR HAS HELD INITIAL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE VIETNAMESE ON SUCH A PACKAGE, AND WILL BE PUTTING PROPOSALS TO THEM SHORTLY. WE AND THE VIETNAMESE UNDERSTAND THAT THE UNHCR PACKAGE WILL INCLUDE PROVISIONS FOR REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE DESIGNED TO ASSIST INDIVIDUAL RETURNEES AND THEIR IMMEDIATE COMMUNITIES, AND WILL BE NON-DEVELOPMENTAL IN NATURE. IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE FOR HUMANITARIAN TREATMENT OF RETURNEES, AND MONITORING. WE ARE PREPARED TO CONTRIBUTE TO SUCH A REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE

PROGRAMME WHICH WE UNDERSTAND WILL BE MODEST.

(E) THE VIETNAMESE EMPHASIZED THAT THEY WERE DETERMINED TO STOP CLANDESTINE DEPARTURES BY BOAT. THEY HAD GIVEN PUBLICITY TO THIS IN VIETNAM, AND WOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE THOSE WHO ORGANISED

'ILLEGAL DEPARTURES' TO COURT.

1

PAGE

CONFIDENTIAL